Pakistan Supreme Court adjourns PM Raja Pervez Ashraf's graft case

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf gained a reprieve on Thursday as the Supreme Court adjourned a case alleging corruption by him till January 23 after the chief of the country's anti-graft agency said he lacked evidence to make arrests.

Appearing before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Fasih Bokhari said investigators had not yet uncovered enough evidence to arrest Ashraf or any other suspects linked to alleged corruption in rental power projects.

The bench directed Mr Bokhari to submit the complete record of investigations into the power projects and adjourned the matter till January 23.

Earlier in the day, the bench was irked when Mr Bokhari said the evidence gathered so far was weak and unlikely to lead to convictions.

He also said an investigation report submitted to the apex court in the past was inaccurate.

Mr Bokhari said the allegation about the power projects causing losses to the national exchequer had not been proved.

Investigation officers had worked in a hurry and did not provide adequate proof in their reports, he added.

His remarks angered the bench, which said the stand taken by NAB did not reflect the reality.

The Chief Justice directed Mr Bokhari and other NAB officials to immediately submit all records of their investigations to the Supreme Court.

NAB Prosecutor KK Agha argued the Supreme Court could not see the agency's investigation records but the bench maintained that the documents should be submitted today.

NAB officials then said the records were with an official in Rawalpindi and would be submitted to the Supreme Court's Registrar later.

Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that some persons involved in the rental power projects case seemed to think they were "above the law" and made it clear that the court was determined to take action in the matter.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had directed NAB to arrest the premier and more than 20 other suspects in connection with alleged graft in the rental power projects.

Officials and federal ministers have already said the premier is unlikely to be arrested soon as several procedures will have to be completed before a warrant can be issued.

Legal experts have said the premier can continue to perform his duties as the chief executive even if he is arrested.